Iran has launched a new wave of ballistic missile attacks targeting U.S. military installations in Qatar and Iraq, escalating regional tensions to a critical level. The strikes come just hours after Iran vowed to retaliate for recent attacks on its nuclear facilities.
According to international news agencies, six ballistic missiles were fired toward Qatar, with loud explosions heard near the capital, Doha. The Al Udeid Air Base, which hosts the largest contingent of U.S. troops in the Middle East, is believed to be the primary target of the assault.
In Iraq, U.S. forces at the Ain al-Asad Air Base were placed on high alert as air defence systems were activated. Personnel stationed at the base were instructed to move into bunkers, signaling a high-threat response to the Iranian offensive.
Iran’s state-affiliated Tasnim News Agency reported that the attacks are part of “Operation Basharat-e-Fatah” (Glad Tidings of Victory), a coordinated response to what Tehran describes as blatant U.S. and Israeli aggression.
Earlier in the day, the spokesperson for Iran’s Central Military Command directly addressed former U.S. President Donald Trump, stating: “Mr. Trump, you may start this war, but we will end it.”
The fresh missile barrage follows an earlier Iranian strike on a U.S. military facility in Syria’s western Hasakah province, also carried out in retaliation for attacks on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. That strike, reported by Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency, marked the first round of Iran’s regional response. Damage assessments from the Syrian and Qatari attacks are still pending.
Tensions in the region continue to rise, with observers warning that the situation could spiral into a broader conflict if de-escalation efforts fail.
